Las Vegas Casual Dining Thread

Did the chef menu here Tuesday night, had never been before. Came with:

Short rib taco
Slippery shrimp
Various banchan (cucumber, kimchi, broccolini, pickled daikon)
homemade Hawaiian bun
Kimchi fried rice
Kalbi
Garlic chicken
Choice of dessert

This place is phenomenal! The taco and shrimp were phenomenal. I was assuming the garlic chicken would be basic/standard, but it was really incredible. The homemade hawaiian bun with sea salt on top was outrageously good. I got the date cake with toffee and salted caramel ice cream and it was maybe the best dessert in my life.

A+, won't miss it again.

Best friend is one of my wife’s favorites. Fun atmosphere, food is good, prices are strip reasonable. Love the garlic chicken.

Haven’t been to Best Friend in years, I should probably go again. The short rib tacos and spicy pork were great

I’ve been meaning to go to so many places, Best Friend definitely on that list

Was super excited when I heard Roy Choi was opening a spot here but the reviews I saw were usually underwhelming so I never bothered to go. Will have to finally check it out.

The only thing I will say about Best Friend is they have a DJ on weekends and play music during the week. I don't care and will say I don't think it's as loud as STK, but I know some people have an issue with that.

It's still a place we always stop for at least a bite and a drink (but that's usually a full blown meal because we want to try a few things and some portions are on the bigger side although that probably doesn't apply to the tasting menu).

We are already booked in two weeks although we usually sit at the bar if it's just the two of us and there's a spot.

It looks like you ate at the bar? For a second I was going to ask if it was the chef's table in the kitchen. I'm not sure I find the thought appealing when the dining room has a vibe that I like.

Was solo at the bar, yep.

Again, we eat at the bar if it's open. And your pics look great.

Just a suggestion to anyone wants to eat at the bar with another person or a few other people, they do not allow you to share a corner. I think there's only one (or two?), so maybe it's not a big deal, but I thought I'd mention it. It's actually why we book a table and then take bar seating if available.

Who is happy that there is a DJ at a restaurant? Hate that…if I want a DJ I’m rolling my face off and I’m not hungry at all.

I really don't mind at places like Best Friend and Superfrico. STK music is terrible.

the Cuban sandwiches at the chef food truck inside parkmgm are legit good.

so are the ham and cheese crocquets

Yea I’m really against the dj thing at restaurants, but there are some places are just far better at it. We went to spago for a Sunday brunch, service was good, food was good, but they had a dj on a computer and it just never fit the more upscale Bellagio crowd that skewed slightly older.

I know James Trees has talked a lot about curating specific playlists to fit what he is going for at esters, despite all the work for that I am not sure he has nailed it either. I just turned 40, but super old at heart, simply tough to top Sinatra, tony Bennett, dean cranked at a dimly lit old school Italian or steakhouse.

It's on our list n 2 weeks, so we might have to check it out.

Bavette’s has added American wagyu skirt steak to the menu. $60 for 10oz including a side dish. Probably the steal of the menu, effectively only $45 for the steak. Will report back with pics in several hours. I’ve been waiting my whole life for this (not really but I’ve been asking them for skirt steak since I first went there, glad they decided to accommodate me by changing their whole menu just to appease me).

Update - skirt steak is 10/10. Get it with the peppercorn crust. Maybe best steak value in Vegas considering it’s $60 including a full side dish.

Looks fantastic!

I had these post VGK game before and I found them to be forgettable, thought Cubanidad’s were better.

you might be right . it's been a long time since I had legit Cubans. I like smearing with a lot of mustard. I liked it a good amount.

Los Tacos, 2 locations this one is the Sahara one. Absolute fire. Carnitas > Asada. They’re expensive tacos con todo, but it’s a ton of food and it’s excellent.

that's stoner food right there
just imagine if the translucent wrapper was edible so you could roll the whole thing up into a burrito

Decent mid strip sushi? Looking at yellow tail at Bellagio this afternoon/early evening. Staying parkmgm without car so lazily wanting something close.

I'd take zuma at Cosmo if that's where you're looking... and it's closer.

https://vegas.eater.com/2024/6/18/241814...

sundry at the uncommons is closing down . i quite liked this because we could eat different cuisimes in one spot.

smitten ice cream was probably my and gfs fav spot for that.

I agree. But only for a business dinner would I stay on strip (I know those were the parameters of the question). Honestly, it’s incomprehensible to me to spend that kind of money instead of getting an Uber to Kabuto or Yui or a couple other places.